Supporting the ministry of Barkham church

Special appeal for maintenance work required at Barkham church

Every five years, the Anglican Church requires as inspection of its historical buildings to be carried out by specialist surveyors in order to identify and recommend on-going maintenance requirements. Our building was inspected in November 2005, and a report sent to us in January 2006 identified maintenance requirements, which is total will cost no less than £120,000.

A copy of the full report and schedule of works is available via the church office. The most expensive items of work include repairs to the external stonework (£47,500), the lead work (£10,000), repointing (£5,000) and upgrading the heating and ventilation (£45,000). (Some of the recommendations are subject to survey and so the final costs may be less or more than quoted).

The surveyor has strongly recommended that around £50,000 of the works should be carried out before the next Quinquennial Review in 2010.

At the Parochial Church Council meeting on 17 September 2007, the PCC finalised and agreed plans to raise these funds. We already have some money designated for church maintenance and have already received some generous donations towards the costs of this recommended maintenance work. The PCC's desire is to raise a significant proportion of the £120,000 requried from within our church membership as one-off gifts on our GIft Day on 16 November 2008. Our fund-raising team is also approaching members of the Barkham community (individuals, groups and businesses) and Trust Funds for donations.

This means that we at Barkham church face a particular challenge this year. In adition to raising the extra £20,300 required to maintain our existing level of activity, we are also looking to raise a significant proportion of the £120,000 required for this vital maintenance work.

This may seem crazy, but we should be enocuraged by Jesus' words in Mark 10:27 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God'. A need that goes so far beyond what we might think we could normally do should drive us to our knees in prayer, and also to our bank statements and personal budgets to work out - before God - what we might be able to contribute, both to the regular activity of the church and to this special appeal. Let's pray that - in just a few months' time - we'll be praising Him for His generous provision through people who have been transformed by the gospel!